Jordi Alba and Raphinha to be Axed To Facilitate Messi's return

Barcelona will have to sacrifice two first-team players in a bid to welcome back their former captain Lionel Messi in the summer transfer window this june .

According to El Nacional, Jordi Alba and Raphinha are the two players that will have to be sold this summer to make space in the Barcelona squad and the wage bill to bring Messi back to Camp Nou.

Barcelona are inching closer to getting the Argentina World Cup winner back to the Catalan club.

However, the Blaugrana are not there yet, as they are still a few millions away from the La Liga limit.

The report added that jordi Alba and Raphinha would have to be sold in the summer to get within the limits.

Barcelona manager Xavi has frequently used Alba and Raphinha this season, but they are not among the players the La Liga champions deem untouchable.